Ancelotti forced to go without Neymar for 2026 World Cup openers

Reports on Thursday confirm that Carlo Ancelotti will have to go without star attacker Neymar for Brazil’s warm-up matches ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and that the former Barcelona and PSG star may have to miss the opening game of the tournament as well.

Ancelotti confirmed that the 34-year-old Neymar would be going to the World Cup in his squad announcement earlier this month.

Neymar has been back in Brazil with his boyhood club Santos since last January, however injuries have continued to have an impact on the veteran’s playtime.

Now, Brazil national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar has confirmed that Neymar will be out of action for another two to three weeks due to a grade-two strain in his calf.

“Neymar came to Granja Comary yesterday, did all the tests, which ended with an MRI that showed a grade two injury to the calf, not just an edema. The expectation is that he will be released in two to three weeks,” Lasmar confirmed (via Globo.com).

That means that he will have to miss out on Brazil’s next friendly against Panama on May 31 and against Egypt on June 6. The expectation is that he will also be unavailable for Brazil’s first game at the 2026 World Cup, which comes against Morocco at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on June 13.

Neymar will instead be targeting an appearance in Brazil’s second match of the tournament, against Haiti on June 20.